Alexandrium Halim, 1960: 102
Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Dinophyta
Class Dinophyceae
Order Gonyaulacales
Family Goniodomataceae
Holotype species: Alexandrium minutum Halim
Original publication and holotype designation:Halim, Y. (1960). Alexandrium minutum, n. gen. n. sp. dinoflagellé provocant des "eaux rouges". Vie et Milieu 11: 102-105.
Taxonomic status: currently recognized as a distinct genus.
Description: Thecate dinoflagellate with median cingulum, descending generally about one cingular width, lacking horns and spines. Cingular lists poorly developed. Thecal surface usually smooth, sculptured only in a few species. Apical pore plate large, with a main large comma-shaped pore, rarely narrow (oval). First apical pore plate connected (subgenus Alexandrium) or disconnected (subgenus Gessnerium) with the apical pore, with or without ventral pore. Plate formula: Po, 4", 6", 6c, 9-11s, 5"', 2"". Nucleus elongated to horseshoe-shaped, numerous chloroplasts. Vegetative reproduction by binary fission, some species forming chains. Sexual reproduction by fusion of isogametes producing planozygotes with 2 sets of flagella which then produce a subspherical hypnozygote surrounded by hyaline mucilage. Cysts formed within the theca.
Comments: Forms large blooms, producing so-called red tides. Several species produce toxins like saxitoxin, gonyautoxin causing Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). No bioluminescence is known.
NCBI Nucleotide Sequences
Numbers of names and species: There are 37 species (and infraspecific) names in the database at present, of which 31 have been flagged as currently accepted taxonomically.
Names: ('C' indicates a name that is currently accepted taxonomically; 'S' a homotypic or heterotypic synonym; 'U' indicates a name of uncertain taxonomic status, but which has been subjected to some verification nomenclaturally; 'P' indicates a preliminary AlgaeBase entry that has not been subjected to any kind of verification. For more information on a species click on it to activate a link to the Species database):
Alexandrium acatenella (Whedon & Kofoid) Balech C
Alexandrium affine (H.Inoue & Y.Fukuyo) Balech C
Alexandrium andersonii Balech C
Alexandrium angustitabulatum F.J.R.Taylor S
Alexandrium balechii (Steidinger) F.J.R.Taylor C
Alexandrium camurascutulum MacKenzie & Todd C
Alexandrium catenella (Whedon & Kofoid) Balech C
Alexandrium cohorticula (Balech) Balech C
Alexandrium compressum (Y.Fukuyo, K.Yoshida & H.Inoue) Balech C
Alexandrium concavum (Gaarder) Balech C
Alexandrium depressum (K.R.Gaarder) Balech & Tangen C
Alexandrium excavatum (Braarud) Balech & Tangen S
Alexandrium foedum Balech C
Alexandrium fraterculum (Balech) Balech C
Alexandrium fukuyoi Balech S
Alexandrium fundyense Balech C
Alexandrium gaarderae Nguyen-Ngoc & Larsen C
Alexandrium globosum Nguyen-Ngoc & Larsen C
Alexandrium hiranoi Kita & Fukuyo C
Alexandrium ibericum Balech S
Alexandrium insuetum Balech C
Alexandrium kutnerae (Balech) Balech C
Alexandrium leei Balech C
Alexandrium lusitanicum Balech S
Alexandrium margalefii Balech C
Alexandrium minutum Halim C - type
Alexandrium monilatum (J.F.Howell) Balech C
Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Paulsen) Balech & Tangen C
Alexandrium peruvianum (Balech & Mendiola) Balech & Tangen C
Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax (Biecheler) Horiguchi ex Kita & Fukuyo C
Alexandrium satoanum K.Yuki & Y.Fukuyo C
Alexandrium tamarense f. excavatum (T.Braarud) G.V.Konovalova P
Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech C
Alexandrium tamiyavanichii Balech C
Alexandrium tamutum M.Montresor, A.Beran & U.John C
Alexandrium taylorii Balech C
Alexandrium tropicale Balech C
References
Bérard-Therriault, L., Poulin, M. & Bossé, L. (1999). Guide d'identification du phytoplancton marin de l'estuaire et du Golfe du Saint-Laurent incluant également certains protozoaires. Publication Spéciale Canadienne des Sciences Halieutiques et Aquatiques 128: 1-387.
Bérard-Therriault, L., Poulin, M. & Bossé, L. (1999). Guide d'identification du phytoplancton marin de l'estuaire et du Golfe du Saint-Laurent incluant également certains protozoaires. Publication Spéciale Canadienne des Sciences Halieutiques et Aquatiques 128: 1-387.
Steidinger, K.A. & Tangen, K. (1996). Dinoflagellates. In: Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. (Tomas, C.R. Eds), pp. 387-584. San Diego: Academic Press.
McMinn, A. & Scott, F.J. (2005). Dinoflagellates. In: Antarctic marine protists. (Scott, F.J. & Marchant, H.J. Eds), pp. 202-250. Canberra & Hobart: Australian Biological Resources Study; Australian Antarctic Division.
Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Linking to this page: http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44609
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 May 2013.
Algaebase taxon LSID: urn:lsid:algaebase.org:taxname:6378
